A fairly mixed side of fringe and academy players were tested against a fairly experienced Stoke side which included Carlo Nash, Tom Soares and former Blade Michael Tonge. Danny Higgbottom also played as part of his recover from injury.
And it was Higginbottom who struck the decisive blow – his free-kick curling past George Long in the united goal.
The home side went ahead early on, after on six minutes and the game ended as thus. But the battling Blades had too few chances in the first half, mainly falling to young Danny Philliskirk with midfielder David McAlister a constant threat.
Erik Tonne had opportunities in the second but the Blades best chance to substitute Elliot Whitehouse but the experienced Nash quickly smothered as the young striker looked to loop the ball round him.
Chris Morgan’s Blades Reserve next face Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, 8 November 2011.
Stoke City: Nash, Roberts-Nurse, Parry, Higginbottom (O’Reilly 45), Hall, Soares (Agbaje 90), Arismendi (Dawson 45), Tonge, Cuvelier, Musungu, Moult. Unused: Brunt, Eve.
Sheffield United: Long, Brown, Warren, Harriott, Parrino, Conneely, McAllister, Murray (McFadzean 78), Tonne, Philliskirk, Gregory (Whitehouse 69). Unused: Willis, Barry.